Dynamic multicast mode selection in a communication network

摘要

In one embodiment, a network device selectively operates according to a sparse multicast mode where the network device stores individual devices interested in one or more multicast groups and distributes corresponding multicast group traffic based on the individual devices. Alternatively, the network device selectively operates according to a dense multicast mode where the network device maintains a list of the one or more multicast groups in which at least one device is interested and distributes corresponding multicast group traffic through broadcasting. By determining one or more resource-related characteristics, the network device may then select between operation in the sparse multicast mode and the dense multicast mode based on the resource-related characteristics.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
selectively operating a network device according to a sparse multicast mode where the network device stores individual devices interested in one or more multicast groups and distributes corresponding multicast group traffic based on the individual devices; selectively operating the network device according to a dense multicast mode where the network device maintains a list of the one or more multicast groups in which at least one device is interested and distributes corresponding multicast group traffic through broadcasting; determining one or more resource-related characteristics by the network device; selecting between operation in the sparse multicast mode and the dense multicast mode based on the resource-related characteristics; and building a database of individual devices interested in one or more multicast groups prior to transitioning from the dense multicast mode to the sparse multicast mode.